Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017
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Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017 Dorchester County Council’s Office 501 Court Lane Cambridge, MD 21613 County History At A Glance Home of Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad conductor, who led dozens of enslaved people to freedom and Anna Ella Carroll, who assisted President Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War. Also home to seven prior Governors for the State of Maryland: John Henry; Charles Goldsborough; Thomas King Carroll; Thomas Holiday Hicks; Henry Lloyd; Emerson C. Harrington; Phillips Lee Goldsborough. The County Seal was designed by Andrew Tolley and adopted by the County Commissioners in 1967. It depicts a waterman holding a pair of oyster tongs and a crab pot facing a farmer holding a cornstalk and pitchfork with the popular "bluecrab" at the top. The center shield is divided to show county interests, sailing, religious heritage, industry and shorelines. The background is a map of the County surrounded by blue water. On the small banner under the shield is written in Latin "Populus prope deum habitans" or "people living under the care of God". The gold banded border is imprinted with the County’s name and 1669, the year the County became a unit of government. Dorchester County Council District #1 Don B. Satterfield District #2 William V. Nichols District #3 Ricky Travers District #4 Rick Price District #5 Tom Bradshaw 2 Message from the County Manager I am pleased to present the Dorchester County Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2017. This report showcases the County and its resources and highlights the County’s accomplishments. In the upcoming fiscal year, the focus will continue to be on providing exceptional service to the citizens of the County. A few of the highlights of this report include: Enactment of a partial abatement of County real property taxes for the rehabilitation of structures tax credit against property tax imposed on newly constructed residential property with an automated fire protection sprinkler system Continued efforts to place County owned properties acquired via tax sale into productive use Staff worked extensively with legislators for the passage of legislation to address blight within the County Developed new partnerships and continued relationships with existing partners For convenience, we have included demographic information about the County as well as fiscal explanations for the FY 2017 budget year. The County Council and its staff continue to strive for excellence in the delivery of public services, always recognizing that the constituents deserve the utmost in customer service, care and fiscal responsibility. It is my pleasure to provide you with this summary of local government activities. Sincerely, Jeremy Goldman 3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOALS AND PRIORITIES To provide effective and efficient government recognizing reduced resources due to economic downturn and State budget impacts To adhere to the Charter of the County as adopted in 2002 To manage all County resources with sound fiscal responsibility To appropriately plan for the needs of constituents To maintain service levels and seek ongoing efficiencies To make Dorchester County a desired place to live and work To welcome visitors to the County and showcase our heritage To protect natural and historic resources Dorchester Demographics County Population 2000 30,674 2010 32,618 2020 34,800 (projection) Source: 2017.2 Brief Economic Facts Sheet-Maryland Department of Commerce 4 Dorchester Demographics (continued) Employment Statistics Public Sector Private Sector Source-Maryland Department of Commerce (2016 statistics) 5 FY 2017 Highlights EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BLIGHT IN THE COUNTY During FY17 the County Council continued its goal to address blight in the County by placing properties back into productive use. This was accomplished by transferring the properties obtained by the County via tax sale. Seventy-eight properties were sold in FY17. Many of the buyers were young investors and first time property owners. Several properties were conveyed to Habitat for Humanity Choptank where homes will be constructed for qualified families. Several of the purchased properties have been renovated and are now occupied. Including mixed use property on Pine Street. The building on this parcel contains an apartment upstairs and a small market downstairs. Before and After Pictures Mixed Use Property-Pine Street 6 FY 2017 Highlights EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BLIGHT IN THE COUNTY (continued) Dorchester County staff participated in a partnership with local legislators and other organizations, such as the Maryland Association of Counties and Maryland Municipal League, to draft legislation to address vacant, abandoned and blighted properties. The following is a synopsis of the bills that were passed into law during the 2017 Maryland General Assembly as a result of this partnership. Senate Bill 957/HB 1168 “Counties and Municipalities-Land Bank Authorities” Updates original statutes enabling municipalities, counties and groups of counties to create land banks Provides the power to a land bank to release liens when a blighted, vacant tax delinquent property does not sell as well as the ability for the land bank to self-fund House Bill 1048/SB 875 “Residential Property-Notice of Foreclosure” Provides local governments notice of foreclosures early in the process House Bill 702/SB 1033 Residential Property-Vacant and Abandoned Property- Expedited Foreclosure” Clearly defines “vacant and abandoned” and blighted property Provides a process for expediting foreclosures on these types of properties House Bill 659/SB 823 “Tax Force to Study Tax Sales in Maryland” Creates a task force to conduct a study of tax sales in the State with the goal of maximizing resources, facilitating the placement of properties into productive uses and protecting residents During the 2017 Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference attendees were provided a summary of the above referenced legislation during a panel discussion titled “No Vacancy: Revitalizing Vacant and Blighted Properties.” Attendees were provided an overview of Dorchester County Government’s Tax Lien Property Re-Purpose plan by Cindy Smith, Grants Administrator. She was invited to speak since Dorchester County leads the State in addressing blight with this innovative plan. Ms. Smith shared with attendees the issues the County faces relating to blighted houses, including impacts to public safety, assessed and market property values and to the local and State economy. She also presented before and after photographs of some of the properties that were sold pursuant to the plan including the Pine Street property highlighted in this report. 7 County Budget Highlights Per the County Charter, the Council is required to adopt a balanced budget no later than May 31st of each year. The County’s fiscal year is July 1st through June 30th. In addition to funding County government services, the Council provided funding to the Board of Education and Chesapeake College. 38% of General Fund Operating Budget is devoted to education Number of County public school facilities: seven elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools Dorchester County is one of five supporting counties for Chesapeake College, a local community college located in Wye Mills, Maryland. Other County partners include Caroline, Talbot, Queen Anne’s and Kent The FY 2017 budget was $68.3 million: $57 million operating budget $8 million capital budget and $3.1 million grant budget Includes Landfill and Airport Enterprise Funds Real property tax rate remained the same 8 Grant Activity The adopted FY 2017 grant budget totaled $3.1 million which included anticipated funds for the following programs: Family Services-Circuit Court Critical Areas-Planning and Zoning Governor’s Office for Children-Local Management Board-Child and Family Services Sheriff’s Office-Governors’ Office of Crime Control & Prevention Grant Administration-Finance Marketing Tier II Grant, Maryland Heritage Area Authority Operating Grant, IRONMAN Maryland-Tourism, Tubman Wayside Grant Program Open Space-Recreation and Parks STATE GRANT FUNDING Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Funding for the Sheriff’s Office: Gun Violence Reduction Protective Order Entry Sex Offender Monitoring School Bus Safety Heroin Enforcement Highway Safety Maryland Heritage Area Authority Funding: Operation and Management of the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area Marketing Maryland Emergency Management Agency: Support of local emergency management operations Department of Natural Resources: Waterway Improvement Funds Countywide maintenance and improvements at public boating facilities in Dorchester County Maryland Department of the Environment: eCycling Event Maryland Aviation Administration: Land Acquisition-Easements for Obstacle Removal-Airport Capital Improvement Plan Special Grant Awards Automated Weather Observation System Replacement Installation of Security Gates Airfield Maintenance Equipment 9 Budget in Brief BUDGET SUMMARY—FY 2017 Operating Budget $ 57,094,622 Capital Budget $ 8,071,358 Grants Budget $ 3,133,633 Total County Budget $ 68,299,613 Operating Budget By Fund Governmental Funds General Government $ 4,848,187 Public Safety $12,489,759 Social Services $ 2,555,982 Public Works $ 5,132,564 Miscellaneous $ 7,535,124 Recreation and Parks $ 687,292 Natural Resources $ 455,180 Economic Development $ 981,219 Debt Service $ 2,562,104 Education $ 23,199,427 Health $ 1,133,641 Special Revenue Funds Transfer Tax $ 1,125,492 Enterprise